Local Red Hat Society celebrates 10 years

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 7:42 PM

The Red Velvet Cupcakes are a fun-raising group.

BY REBEKAH CANSLER MCGEEThe Dispatch

The Red Velvet Cupcakes are a fun-raising group.Throwing traditional and conventional color schemes and fabrics to the wind, about 50 ladies gather once a month for an evening of laughter and camaraderie, dressed to the nines in rich colors and one-of-a kind hats. The Cupcakes are the local chapter of the Red Hat Society and on Thursday evening they were celebrating their 10th anniversary with the first-ever game of bingo and prizes. The past chapter birthdays have brought every kind of local talent from cloggers to belly dancers and singers to celebrity impersonators. Davidson County resident and local hat aficionado, Judy Butler is the chapter's "Queen Mother," however, a recent injury kept her from the 10th anniversary festivities. "We just come to enjoy one another's company, laugh and let our hair down," said Sharon Hege, charter member and one of the ladies celebrating a birthday in the month of March.The local chapter developed its own twist on the rules, allowing members with birthdays during the meeting's month to wear red outfits and purple hats, a switch from the norm. Hege wore a red dress suit with a stylish purple hat borrowed from Butler."We really don't have any rules here except what colors you wear," said Vicky Gray, chapter charter member who was also celebrating a birthday this month. She wore a purple ensemble with a purple hat due to the fact her red dress wasn't suited for the cold weather.The Red Hat Society is made up of members over 50 years old who are called Red Hatters. If a lady wishes to join but hasn't reached the appropriate age, she must dress in a lavender outfit with a pink hat. Once she reaches the age of 50, a ceremony dubbed REDuation is given to celebrate the birthday and turning point in the society. "Many women are really sad and depressed when they turn 50," said Phyllis Comer, a member of the Cupcakes. "But turning 50 for me was the best time of my life! I finally got to wear red and purple."The first meeting of the Cupcakes was in the old Lexington State Bank, now NewBridge. Butler was one of the charter members and was instrumental in getting the chapter off the ground. The local group holds monthly meetings in addition to events such as a Halloween themed party and a yearly pajama party at the Holiday Inn Express. The age range of the Cupcakes can vary more than 40 years with the oldest member of the group being Mary Williams at the age of 90. For the 10th anniversary, she donned a red sequined beret, a hat that she wouldn't wear if it wasn't for the Cupcakes."I hate hats," Williams said. "But I don't get out much and this is a fun group."Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 228, or at rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.